Neonautica: Building Joy, Sound, and Spectacle for New Orleans’ Dance Floor

NOLA EDM: The last time we spoke, you were just getting started and building your foundation. Now you’re stepping into your April cover moment with a full live performance at Howlin’ Wolf. What has that journey looked like for you?

Neonautica: It’s honestly been an incredible amount of work and time spent producing new songs, rehearsing, learning choreography, experimenting with live effects, and more. But the effort is paying off and we can’t wait to bring our act to the people!

NOLA EDM: For people discovering Neonautica now, how would you describe the project today compared to when it first began?

Neonautica: When we first began a decade ago we were an acoustic, stripped-down voice/sax duo doing experimental music across the country. We have still retained our spirit of adventure but channeled that impulse into dance music with optimistic vibes.

NOLA EDM: Your upcoming Happy Fun Dance Hour show blends live vocals, saxophone, synths, and electronic production. What inspired you to build a set that merges live performance with dance music?

Neonautica: At our core, we are live performers. Megan is a conservatory-trained opera singer and Alan has decades of experience as a saxophonist in a variety of genres. We both love EDM so the Neonautica project was our way of asking how we could combine all of our modes of musical expression.

NOLA EDM: You’ve been consistently showing up and supporting the community at different shows across the city. Why has that been an important part of your growth as an artist?

Neonautica: Being a musician means being in community. Every note we write, every drop we make, every phrase we sing or play, every show we perform is to communicate our love for people. There are so many superb artists in our city and we want them to feel valued through our ears, our attention, and our dollars. We are all in this together. Inspiration starts in your backyard – and New Orleans contains so many musicians we find extraordinary!

NOLA EDM: Your sound pulls from EDM, funk, soul, avant-pop, and cinematic elements. How do you approach blending those influences into something that still feels cohesive on the dance floor?

Neonautica: That is the biggest balancing act of all! Our strategy over the past couple of years has been to conceive of our live act first and foremost as a complete set (rather than writing individual songs or drops and seeing how they might be assembled). The set has a dramatic arc to it and that was our foundational concept. Then it was easier for us to step back and say “okay now we can have a song that goes here with this kind of sound world and vibe and tempo.” Really, this is where our background as classical musicians comes in handy. Classical musicians are accustomed to composing or programming shows of 60, 90, or even 120 minutes in length months in advance and intuiting what the crowd will want to feel that night and in what order. It’s an incredible skill that takes years of experience to acquire. We are taking that approach to our live set as we attempt to blend so many influences into something the crowd will love. 

NOLA EDM: This set is described as a nonstop hour of original music. What kind of journey are you taking people on during that performance?

Neonautica: Our set starts with a track that is almost a guided meditation to remind everyone that they’re safe and empowered and valued as human beings. From there, every song we perform is about the joy of being alive. There’s really a little something for everyone – whether you’re a drum and bass fan, an older listener who fondly remembers 1970s funk, someone who likes modern pop, or someone whose favorite music is film scores. The journey is one of inclusion and joy.

NOLA EDM: Howlin’ Wolf is a different kind of venue compared to a club. How does performing in a live music space shape the way you approach your set?

Neonautica: We love performing in a variety of rooms and spaces. Every venue offers its own advantages, disadvantages, and vibe. We aren’t kidding when we say that we’ve performed across the United States in spaces from libraries to brewpubs to clubs to abandoned warehouses to planetariums to orchestra halls. We consider the space and ask ourselves how our performance can connect with people the best considering the room.

NOLA EDM: You’re sharing the stage with NOLA Housing Project and M3OWM1X. What excites you about this lineup and the energy of the night?

Neonautica: They are both such incredible artists! We’ve enjoyed being in the crowd for both and know they’re able to bring joy and movement to audiences. Those are precisely the kind of folks we wish to partner with. April 10 is going to have a lot of positive energy (much needed in these turbulent times)!

NOLA EDM:  Looking back at your growth, what do you think has been the biggest shift — in your sound, your confidence, or your vision?

Neonautica: We have been absolutely honored that every single time we play our set for folks, they respond with enthusiasm and delight. As we’ve evolved we have realized that our weirdest ideas are the ones that connect hardest with the crowd precisely because they’re so unexpected. So we continue to lean into our most unhinged impulses!

NOLA EDM: Looking ahead through the rest of 2026, what should people be paying attention to from Neonautica?

Neonautica: We have some incredible collaborations and local shows coming your way in 2026, pulling in even more genres and in places you might not expect. One collab is literally a symphony written for us by a major American composer that combines our EDM and classical sides; yet another project we have in the works is with a Grammy-nominated rapper. Later in 2026 (on October 4) we are presenting a huge show in New Orleans that will feature local supporting acts, dancers, extra horns, a guest soul singer, and more! If there’s anything you should know about Neonautica, it’s that we don’t do anything halfway.